Hobie Eirich Takes Tennessee Gold
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In May, Tennessee trucking association officials presented Hobie Eirich with the grand champion trophy at their precision-driving championships.
Eirich, who recently moved to the Volunteer State with his family, was no stranger to such distinction from a state competition. During his relatively brief stint in competitive trucking circuits, Eirich has compiled quite the full-scale résumé-builder. Prior to the victory that advanced him to his third National Truck Driving Championships, he claimed the grand championship in California six years ago.
After that 2018 victory, he told Transport Topics, “I try and go out there and do my best, and if I can help somebody else out I try [to] do that as well.”
Aside from his two state titles, Eirich also qualified for NTDC out of the 4-axle class in 2015.
Eirich is among a cadre of seven drivers who will represent either FedEx Freight or FedEx in Indianapolis this week. (Walmart drivers claimed the Sleeper Berth and Tank Truck titles). The California-cool-at-heart standout will vie for a strong showing in the 4-axle class.
2024 National Truck Driving Championships
Who: Winners from nine categories at the state level who have advanced to the national competition, where a Grand Champion will be crowned
What: Contestants are judged on a written exam, pre-trip inspection and driving skills
When: Aug. 21-24
Where: Indianapolis
Admittedly, the “Super Bowl of Safety” has been a tricky event to figure out. But, he insists, the summer classic is more than a tournament. It’s a celebration of camaraderie and professionalism.
“The way that you get treated and the kind of people you meet and so on and so forth — it’s absolutely great. It really is,” he told TT. “It’s in my blood. I’ve had a few people tell me, ‘Man, you’re really into it.’ And I tell them, ‘Well, that’s what it’s all about.’ You gotta live and breathe safety in order to be able to compete and do this kind of stuff. And so, that’s what I look forward to.”
Getting to Know You
Name: Hobie Eirich
Age: 53
From: Halls, Tenn.
Vehicle: 4-axle
Music: Eclectic country and classic rock
Hobby: Riding his off-road quad four-wheeler
Food: Mexican
Movie: Smokey and the Bandit
Most memorable NTDC moment: “Meeting new people and making new friends.”
The last word: “Strive to be safe because that’s what it’s all about.”
“I certainly believe … you put your hard work in and the boundaries are endless. You’re — sooner or later — going to make it to the top, and that’s what we’re all striving for,” he went on. “So, you just go out there [and] you do your best; you pay it forward as much as you can because that’s what it’s about, and hope for the best.”
As for his personal expectations at NTDC — facing the country’s best-of-the-best — Eirich said, “I think that I’m a fairly decent driver but when you compete with guys like that, it really shows you, ‘Hey, you really need to perfect your driving style.’ ”
Other Tennessee winners:
3-Axle: Gary Lunster, FedEx Freight
5-Axle: Timothy Blair, FedEx Freight
Flatbed: Ray Shelton, FedEx Freight
Sleeper Berth: Dean Hiles, Walmart
Step Van: Jason Flowers, FedEx
Straight Truck: Steven Magers, FedEx Freight
Tank Truck: Lonnie Cole, Walmart
Twins: Ronny Hammill, FedEx Freight
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